The Last Inning By Lanny J. Davis

Big Train 13U Cove Creek Park Tournament Champions, July 2018

(L to R): Coach Bobby, Dad Manager John, Sommers, Nathan, Jeremy, Shawn,

Andrew, Matt, Mitchell, Owen, Kailen, Alex, Coach Dave, Liam, and Josh.

1

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has

been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of

steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard,

rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked

the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past,

Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that

could be again.”

--Terrence Mann, “Field of Dreams”

# # # #

For anyone who knows and loves baseball, the most

memorable “last inning” would probably be the

bottom of the ninth in a game played at a stadium

called “The Polo Grounds,” located in upper Harlem,

Manhattan, on a cliff called “Coogan’s Bluff” -- the

home of the New York Giants from the late 19th

century until 1957, when the Giants left New York City

for San Francisco.

In mid-August 1951, the New York Giants trailed the

mighty Brooklyn Dodgers, with Jackie Robinson and

many other all-stars, by 13 ½ games. Yet they won 37

out of the next 44 games to end up in a tie for first,

requiring a best of 3 play-off for the National League

pennant.

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The Giants won the first game, then lost the

second. So, the final third game was played at the

Polo Grounds, on October 3, 1951.

The Dodgers looked like they would win the tie-

breaker – leading 4-1 going into the bottom of the

ninth inning. But then came the Miracle at Coogan’s

Bluff, as it came to be known ever since among major

league baseball players and historians.

The Giants began the last inning with two singles and

a double, scoring a run. The score was now 4-2, with

two on. After the next hitter popped up, the Dodgers

brought in ace reliever, Ralph Branca, to face Giants

left fielder, Bobby Thomson.

First pitch – a fast ball, called strike.

The second pitch -- a high fastball, just inside the

plate. Thomson seemed to be waiting for a fast

ball. Wonder why.

Whack.

The sound of that hit was heard like a cannon shot to

those who were there – often compared to the famous

“Shot Heard ‘Round the World” that began the

American Revolutionary War in Concord,

Massachusetts, on July 19, 1775. Thomson’s line

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drive hit the left field upper deck in what seemed like

a split second. Home run. Game over – 5-4 Giants.

“The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the

pennant, the Giants win the pennant,” Russ Hodges,

the Giants radio announcer, screamed into

the microphone again and again.

Yes, miracles are possible.

After all, it’s baseball.

# # # #

“Shoeless Joe” Jackson: “Man, I did love this game.

I‘d have played for food money. It was the game….The

sounds, the smells. Did you ever hold a ball or a glove

to your face?

Ray Kinsella: Yeah.

Shoeless Joe: I used to love travelling on the trains

from town to town. The hotels…brass spittoons in the

lobbies, brass beds in the rooms. It was the crowd,

rising to their feet when the ball was hit deep.

Shoot, I’d play for nothing!”

--“Field of Dreams”

# # # #

4

On July 14, 2018 -- sixty-six years and three-hundred-

one days after the Giants’ Miracle at Coogan’s Bluff

(and almost exactly 243 years after the actual “shot

heard ‘round the world” signifying the beginning of the

Revolutionary War) -- the Bethesda-Chevy Chase

(BCC), Maryland - “Big Train” 13-and-under baseball

team experienced its unforgettable “last inning.”

On that date, the BCC “Big Train” team (named after

the legendary Washington Senators pitcher, Walter

“Big Train” Johnson) played the “Akadema Rangers”

from Forest, Virginia. They were playing in the 2018

Cove Creek Classic, a prestigious regional

tournament for dozens of teams, 13 and under and

younger age groups as well. The tournament was

played in a massive baseball complex located in

Faber, Virginia, built and financed by famous novelist,

John Grisham, near the University of Virginia in

Charlottesville.

This Big Train-Rangers game played on late Saturday

afternoon game July 14 was the “play-in” game –

whoever won the game got to play on Sunday in the

“Final Four” for the championship. The loser would go

home. The game didn’t start till 3 pm. That meant,

due to time limits and sunlight, it would be limited to

four innings. The Rangers were the “visiting” team –

they were up first. The Big Train would get to hit last

in the bottom of the fourth.

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And what a first inning the Rangers had!

In the top of the first, Big Train starting pitcher Josh

Erd walked the first batter and the next Rangers

batter hit a line drive home run over the left field

fence. That quick, the score was 2-0 Rangers.

Then the first inning rout began.

Walk, single, single, single, and the score was 3-0.

Another walk – the score was now 4-0.

In came a new Big Train pitcher, Owen Basso, who

walked the next batter and the score was now 5-0.

But Basso struck out the next two batters to get to

two outs and it looked like the Rangers offensive

momentum had stalled.

But no. With the bases still loaded, the next Rangers

batter walked, and the score was 6-0. A sharp single

to center fielder Liam Bowen scored another run,

making the score 7-0. Only Bowen’s strong throw from

center field to home plate prevented the 8th run from

scoring.

Then on a 3-1 count, the Rangers batter hit a towering

fly ball over the left field fence for a Grand Slam home

run.

The score was now 11-0.

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The third out of the top of the first came – finally – on

a ground ball.

The Big Train parents watched, feeling despair for

their sons. An 11-0 deficit after the first inning seemed

decisive and impossible to overcome, at least to

caring parents.

But somehow, their sons didn’t get the message.

In the bottom of the first inning, after Owen Basso

popped up and Josh Erd struck out, Nathan Gumagay

walked on 3-2 count and went to second on a passed

ball and then stole third. Gumagay’s burst of energy,

despite the score being 11-0, was an indicator of

things to come, though no one knew it at the

time. Third baseman Matt Roche and catcher Shawn

Benjamin walked to load the bases. When first

baseman Andrew Lombardo was hit by a pitch, the Big

Train team had their first run.

The score was now 11-1.

“Well,” a Big Train parent said, trying to be humorous,

“it’s really like we’re only behind now, 10-0.” Some Big

Train parents laughed.

Center fielder Liam Bowen grounded out to second

base for the third out, and the Big Train team raced

onto the field as if to say, “game on…let’s go.”

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In the top of the second inning, with Basso still

pitching, the first Rangers batter singled, stole

second base, and the next batter reached first on an

error. Runners on 1st and 3rd. The Rangers player on

first base stole second so now there were runners on

2nd and 3rd, with no outs. It looked like the Rangers

were about to pile it on again, the way they had in the

previous inning.

But Owen Basso stepped up. He struck out the next

Rangers batter on three pitches, got the next batter

to pop up for second out, and got the next batter to

ground out to Big Train shortstop Nathan Gumagay.

Three outs.

The score was still 11-1, Rangers.

In the bottom of the second, the Big Train team proved

it hadn’t given up, despite that 10-run deficit.

On a 3-1 count, second baseman Jeremy Davis began

the rally with a single to right field. Left-fielder Alex

Chang, a consistently reliable outfielder with a knack

for getting the barrel on the ball when he

batted, walked on a 3-2 count, moving Jeremy Davis

to second. After a balk by the Rangers pitcher, Davis

moved to 3rd, Chang to 2nd. Then right fielder Kailen

Hargenrader singled on line drive to center fielder,

scoring Davis and Chang, the first two RBIs of the

game for Hargenrader.

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The score was now 11-3. Still no outs

Owen Basso grounded into a fielder’s choice, with a

runner out at second while Basso remaining at first

base. One out. Shortstop Josh Erd singled to left and

Basso took second. Then Nathan Gumagay drove in

Basso on a solid single to left field, with Josh Erd

moving to third.

The score was now 11-4.

“Well, now the score is like only 7-0,” said a Big Train

parent, “That’s right,” said another, with other parents

laughing, nervously.

Nathan Gumagay stole 2nd, putting men on 2nd and

3rd. Then third baseman Matt Roche singled on a

sharp line drive to center, scoring Erd and Gumagay.

The score was now 11-6.

Catcher Shawn Benjamin singled on a line drive to left

field, with Matt Roche advancing to 3rd. But two outs

followed to end the inning.

“Well now it’s like we’re down only 5-0,”a Big Train

parent said. Other parents were nodding their heads,

almost starting to believe in miracles. But someone

responded, “Quiet – you could hex us.”

9

The Big Train team knew it had to keep that deficit at

5 runs. In the top of the 3rd their pitcher Owen Basso

and the team did it. But not without the Rangers

threatening. After the first out on a ground ball, the

next Ranger batter walked and next batter singled. A

sacrifice bunt moved the two runners to 2nd and 3rd.

Basso got the third out on a pop up to third baseman

Matt Roche.

The score remained 11-6, going into bottom of the

third inning.

The first batter for Big Train was hard-hitting center

fielder Liam Bowen. He hit a sharp grounder into the

shortstop-third based hole for a base hit. Second

baseman Jeremy Davis lined out to deep center field

for the first out. Left fielder Alex Chang grounded out

to shortstop for the second out, with Bowen

advancing to 2nd. Then right fielder Kailen

Hargenrader hit a clutch two-out hit to right field,

scoring Liam Bowen, for Kailen’s third RBI of the day.

The score was now 11-7.

Another Big Train parent said , “So now it’s like only

4-0.” Many now were quietly agreeing, nodding their

heads – but afraid to say anything, afraid of the hex

that would kill the magic.

10

After Kailen Hargenrader stole 2nd base, Owen Basso

flied out to left field for third out.

Top of the 4th, Rangers up. The time was approaching

5 pm. The umpire reminded everyone this would be

the final inning. Could the Big Train team hold the

four-run gap going into the bottom of the 4th?

With Basso still on the mount, with even more

determination, they did. The first Rangers batter

walked and immediately attempted to steal

second. Big Train catcher Shawn Benjamin would

have none of that. He jumped to his feet and in one

motion threw a line drive strike bullet to second base,

with shortstop Gumagay applying a firm, low tag. One

out. The second out came on a line drive to second

baseman Josh Erd. The next Rangers hitter reached

first base on an error by shortstop Gumagay, followed

by a single, putting men on 1st and 2nd. But again,

Basso bore down. He threw three straight strikes for

the K -- and the inning was over.

Bottom of the fourth, last at-bats for The Big Train.

They remained down by four runs, 11-7.

Just three innings before, the margin was 11-0.

Shortstop Josh Erd began with a single, a hard ground

ball to center field. Erd stole 2nd. Then shortstop

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Nathan Gumagay hit a towering fly ball no-doubter,

well over the left field fence, for a two-run home run.

The deficit was now down to 2 – 11-9.

Still no outs.

Third baseman Matt Roche doubled on a line drive to

the Rangers’ center fielder, and catcher Shawn

Benjamin walked. Runners on 1st and 2nd. First

baseman Andrew Lombardo walked to load the

bases. After Liam Bowen struck out on a 2-2 count,

second baseman Jeremy Davis hacked to a 3-2 count

and got the RBI by walking and scoring Matt Roche

from third.

The score was now 11-10,

Now Big Train parents sat still, as if they were in a

frozen state, afraid to move, afraid to breathe, to do

anything that might break the magic. It was nearly

5:30 pm, and the cloud-covered sky should have been

growing darker. But somehow, somehow, it seemed

to be getting brighter.

Bases loaded. Left fielder Alex Chang popped out in

foul territory to the Rangers first baseman and there

were now two outs.

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One more out and the game was over, one run shy of

The Miracle that seemed impossible just four innings

before.

But Kailen Hargenrader had other things in mind. So

far, he was 2-2 for the day, with three RBIs.

1st pitch, strike, looking. The air was still. All dead

quiet. Time seemed to have stopped.

2nd pitch, ball. 1-1 count.

3rd pitch – a low inside fast ball, at Hargenrader’s

shins.

He swung. Smooth. Sweeping. Upward.

Crack of the bat. Sweet spot. Launch angle

high. The ball took off like a rocket soaring high in

the air.

High.

Long.

Going, going.

SEE. YOU. LATER. Ten, twenty feet over the right

field fence.

A walk-off, Grand Slam home run. Game over.

Final score: Big Train 14 - Rangers 11.

13

The Big Train kids came roaring out of dugout to greet

their teammates at home plate. First Shawn Benjamin

crossed home plate from third, then Andrew

Lombardo from second, then Jeremy Davis from first,

and finally, the walk-off hero -- Kailen Hargenrader, his

third straight hit and 7th RBI of the game, jumped into

the air and landed on home plate, as his deliriously

happy teammates swarmed around him.

Miracles do happen.

After all, it’s baseball.

# # # #

But there was still another last inning to be played –

in the championship game the next day, Sunday, July

15 – that is if the BCC Big Train team could win the

semi-final first game in the late morning.

They did, winning by a surprisingly wide margin to get

into the championship game in the early afternoon

against the “Batting Cave Cavemen,” from Grottoes,

Virginia -- whose name was as daunting as the size

and skill of their players.

Once again, since this was second game of the day

and last one in the tournament, the game had to be

shortened, but this time to 5-innings.

14

Before the championship game, Big Train Coach

Bobby assembled the team, with all the boys sitting,

exhausted on a grassy slope. The coach, knowing how

tired everyone was, asked someone to volunteer to

start as pitcher of the final game. At first no hands

raised, with many of veteran pitchers having pitched

the day before and in that morning’s semi-final game.

Then two arms were raised: Catcher/left fielder and

sometimes relief pitcher, Mitchell Hwang, and the

usual closer and right fielder, Sommers Turner.

In the first few innings, with Mitchell Hwang pitching

steady, virtually walk-free baseball, the Big Train

team jumped to a quick lead. By the bottom of the

third, Big Train led 8-2.

But in the bottom of the 4th, the Batting Cavemen

showed they weren’t about to give up. Hwang got the

first batter out on a fly ball to center fielder Liam

Bowen. One out. But Mitchell seemed to be

tiring. After going 3-2 on the next batter, he put a fast

ball over the center of the plate, waist high.

Boom. The Cavemen batter hit a towering home run

over the left field fence. The score was now 8-3.

The next man walked on four straight balls, and then

a second walk after a 3-1 count. Batting Cavemen on

first and second with only one out.

15

Coach Bobby walked out to the mound, patted

Mitchell on the shoulder, and took the ball. As

Mitchell walked off the mound, head justifiably held

high, he was greeted by a standing ovation by Big

Train parents and high fives by his teammates in the

dug-out. He ended up pitching 3.1 innings, threw 62

pitches, walked only 3, 2 of which came in the last

top-fourth inning. He had given up only 3 earned runs

on 4 hits.

The closer waved in by Coach Bobby was Sommers

Turner.

Turner took his practice warm-up pitches in classic

Sommers style. All strikes. No overpowering heat – a

lot of off-speeds and breaking balls. The Batting

Cavemen team seemed to watch with confidence.

Turner looked easy to hit, they must have been

thinking. Or so they may have thought.

The reality was another matter.

With runners on first and second, Sommers gave up an

immediate sharp ground ball to ace third basemen

Matt Roche, going to his backhand. Tough

play. Matt bobbled the ball and the throw to first was

too late. Now bases were loaded, with still one out.

With one home run swing, the score would be 8-7, with

the tying run coming to home plate. “OMG,” one of the

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Big Train parents whispered, mirroring the nightmare

that other parents must have been having. Is this

yesterday in reverse?

The next Cavemen hitter smacked a solid base hit to

the now-left fielder, Mitchell Hwang. Hwang scooped

the ball up and threw a rifle shot to the cutoff man, so

only one run scored on the bases-loaded hit.

But now the score was 8-4, with bases still loaded and

still only one out. Tying run at home plate, that is, on

a Grand Slam home run. It was impossible to avoid

that horrific thought if you were a Big Train parent.

But wait. You could almost see pitcher Sommers

Turner gritting his teeth, his eyes narrowing with

intensity. No, he seemed to be thinking – it’s not going

to happen. Time to close it down.

First pitch, a sharply breaking curve ball, a pop fly to

third baseman Matt Roche, an automatic out under

the “infield fly rule.”

Two outs.

Next batter – again, at least to the Cavemen batter,

an annoyingly slow change up on the first pitch.

He swung way out in front. The result: a weak ground

ball, again to third baseman Roche, and a bullet throw

on target to first base. Three outs.

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The score remained 8-4 going into the bottom of the

4th, the last half of the last inning.

The Big Train team was not about to rest easy on a

four-run lead. They remembered what happened in the

late afternoon just the day before, when they came

from behind after an 11-0 first inning. They knew they

needed more runs.

And they got them.

After Josh Erd hit a fly ball to left field for the first out,

Nathan Gumagay walked, advanced to second on a

pass ball, and stole third. A surge of energy seemed

to overtake the Big Train dugout. Even more so after

Matt Roche walked and stole the open

second base. Then catcher Shawn Benjamin walked

to load the bases, still only one out. Andrew

Lombardo worked the count to 3-1, then walked

making the score 9-4.

Bases still loaded, one out.

With the infield in, pinch-hitter Jeremy Davis, who had

pitched successfully in the first semi-final game, hit a

sharp ground ball up the middle, snagged by the

second basemen, who threw home for the second

out. But then the next two Big Train batters – Kailen

Hargenrader and Alex Chang – walked in two more

runs, and the score was now 11-4. Owen Basso hit a

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sharp ground ball to the third baseman, thrown out at

first by an eyelash, for the third out.

And now it was bottom of the 5th.

This time pitcher Turner wasn’t messing around with

any thoughts of miracles by the Cavemen team.

First pitch, breaking ball – ground out to second

baseman, Owen Basso, one out.

Next batter, first pitch, fast ball, another ground out

to Basso, two outs.

Turner was not to be denied. He threw all curves and

change ups and reached a 3-2 count. But then, he

reared back and – fast ball on the outside edge of the

piece – swing – strike three! Game over!

The Big Train team rushed onto to the field to hug and

raise Sommers Turner into the air. They gathered

around Coach Bobby, arms linked. They were one unit

then – as they had been throughout the tournament.

They were the 2018 Cove Creek Tournament

champions.

They were not individual players anymore. They were

a team. And baseball teams win, not individuals.

# # # #

19

“Is this heaven, Ray?

“No, it’s Iowa.”

--“Field of Dreams”

# # # #

It was also heaven in Faber, Virginia, on July 14 and

15, 2018, for the great Big Train 2018 13U Cove Creek

championship team.

That’s right. Team.

*/ Lanny Davis is an attorney specializing in crisis management as a co-

founder of the Washington D.C. law firm of Davis Goldberg Galper PLLC. He

served as Special Counsel to President Clinton in 1996-98. Much more

important to him, he is a baseball dad and loves the Washington Nationals.